U.S. patent number 8,764,497 [Application Number 13/808,097] was granted by the patent office on 2014-07-01 for electrical contact part.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Weidmueller Interface GmbH & Co. KG. The grantee listed for this patent is Gerhard Eggert, Stephan Fehling, Georg Kulturidi, Matthias Niggemann, Klaus Pueschner, Michael Schnatwinkel, Ralf Schumacher, Marco Waldhoff, Klaus Wohlgemuth. Invention is credited to Gerhard Eggert, Stephan Fehling, Georg Kulturidi, Matthias Niggemann, Klaus Pueschner, Michael Schnatwinkel, Ralf Schumacher, Marco Waldhoff, Klaus Wohlgemuth.
United States Patent |
8,764,497 |
Fehling , et al. |
July 1, 2014 |
Electrical contact part
Abstract
An electrical contact arrangement includes a planar conductive
metal blank having sections that are foldable to define pairs of
orthogonally arranged component contacts and bus blade contacts.
Connected with a first pair of opposed side edges of a horizontal
rectangular core section of the blank are a pair of rectangular
component contact sections that are upwardly bent to define a pair
of component contacts for receiving therebetween an electrical
component, such as a printed circuit board. Connected with the
orthogonally arranged second pair of opposed side edges of the core
section are a pair of rectangular support sections that are bent
downwardly, whereby a corresponding pair of bus blade contact
sections connected with corresponding edges of the support sections
extend in vertical parallel spaced relation to define a pair of bus
blade contacts adapted for insertion between the downwardly bent
support sections of a corresponding second electrical contact
arrangement.
Inventors: |
Fehling; Stephan (Lage,
DE), Kulturidi; Georg (Bielefeld, DE),
Niggemann; Matthias (Doerentrup, DE), Pueschner;
Klaus (Detmold, DE), Schnatwinkel; Michael
(Herford, DE), Schumacher; Ralf (Lemgo,
DE), Wohlgemuth; Klaus (Kalletal, DE),
Waldhoff; Marco (Sandebeck, DE), Eggert; Gerhard
(Detmold, DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fehling; Stephan
Kulturidi; Georg
Niggemann; Matthias
Pueschner; Klaus
Schnatwinkel; Michael
Schumacher; Ralf
Wohlgemuth; Klaus
Waldhoff; Marco
Eggert; Gerhard |
Lage
Bielefeld
Doerentrup
Detmold
Herford
Lemgo
Kalletal
Sandebeck
Detmold |
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A |
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Weidmueller Interface GmbH &
Co. KG (Detmold, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
44503776 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/808,097 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2011 |
PCT
Filed: |
July 13, 2011 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/EP2011/061985 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
January 02, 2013 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2012/007518 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
January 19, 2012 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20130109252 A1 |
May 2, 2013 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 15, 2010 [DE] |
|
|
20 2010 010 275 U |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/862;
439/629 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/05 (20130101); H01R 13/112 (20130101); H01R
13/113 (20130101); H01R 11/05 (20130101); H01R
9/2675 (20130101); H01R 12/721 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
4/48 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;439/65,629-631,907,928,861,862 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
29713960 |
|
Jan 1998 |
|
DE |
|
19718996 |
|
Jun 1998 |
|
DE |
|
19826390 |
|
Dec 1999 |
|
DE |
|
19964156 |
|
Sep 2000 |
|
DE |
|
29916302 |
|
Apr 2001 |
|
DE |
|
1289070 |
|
Mar 2003 |
|
EP |
|
1289070 |
|
Jan 2007 |
|
EP |
|
Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Khiem
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Laubscher, Sr.; Lawrence E.
Laubscher, Jr.; Lawrence E.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electrical contact arrangement for use in a modular
expandable bus bar arrangement, comprising: (a) a planar resilient
conductive metal blank (100) including: (1) a horizontal central
rectangular core section (23) having two pairs of opposed side
edges; (2) a pair of generally rectangular component contact
sections (21) connected by first fold lines (L.sub.1) with an
orthogonally arranged first pair of said core section opposed side
edges; (3) a pair of generally rectangular support sections (113,
123) having second side edges connected by second fold lines
(L.sub.2) with a second pair of said core section opposed side
edges; and (4) a pair of bus blade contact sections (111, 121)
connected with corresponding side edges of said support sections by
third lines (L.sub.3) that extend normal to said first fold lines;
(b) said component contact sections being bent upwardly about said
first fold lines toward generally vertical positions with their
upper ends terminating in adjacent relation, thereby to permit the
insertion of an electrical component (4) therebetween; (c) said
support sections being bent downwardly about said second fold lines
toward vertical positions in which said bus blade contact sections
extend horizontally in spaced relation away from said central core
section, thereby to permit connection of said electrical contact
arrangement with a similar bus arrangement.
2. An electrical contact arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein
said component contact sections are symmetrically deformed to
define fork component contacts (21) that are resiliently biased
together toward the vertical central plane (20) passing
longitudinally therebetween.
3. An electrical contact arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein
said fork component contacts terminate at their upper free ends in
outwardly bent end portions (210), thereby to define a pair of
first contact surfaces (210a) adapted for engagement with opposite
sides of the electrical component.
4. An electrical contact arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein
said third lines are fold lines; and further wherein said bus blade
sections are symmetrically deformed to define spaced bus blade
contacts (11, 12) that are resiliently biased apart relative to the
vertical central plane (10) passing longitudinally
therebetween.
5. An electrical contact arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein
when two of said contact arrangements are arranged end-to-end, said
bus blade contacts of one contact arrangement are adapted to extend
in vertical parallel spaced relation in electrical engagement with
the inner surfaces of the support sections of a corresponding
second contact arrangement.
6. An electrical contact arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein
said bus blade contacts terminate at their free ends in inwardly
bent end portions (110), thereby to define a pair of second contact
surfaces (110a) adapted for engagement with the inner surfaces of
the support sections of the second contact arrangement.
7. An electrical contact arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein
each of said conductive metal blank support sections includes an
extension section (112, 122) that extends from the support section
in the opposite direction from the associated blade contact
section, whereby when a pair of said contact arrangements are
arranged end-to-end, said bus blade contacts of one contact
arrangement are adapted to extend in vertical parallel spaced
relation in electrical engagement between the extension sections of
the companion electrical contact arrangement.
8. An electrical contact arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein
each of said extension sections includes a lateral strengthening
tab (35) that is inwardly bendable toward a horizontal position for
strengthening the relationship between said extension sections.
9. An electrical contact arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein
each of said extension sections includes a reversely folded by
strengthening flap (1222).
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371 of the
International Application No. PCT/EP2011/061985 filed Jul. 13,
2011, which claims priority of the German Application No. 20 2010
010 275.8 filed Jul. 15, 2010.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
An electrical contact arrangement includes a planar conductive
metal blank having sections that are foldable to define pairs of
resilient orthogonally arranged component contacts and bus blade
contacts. The component contacts are arranged to receive
therebetween an electrical component such as a printed circuit
board, and the bus blade components are arranged to connect
together a string of the electrical contact arrangements.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known in the prior art to provide switchboard units, for
example, for machines or production lines which--for the control
and monitoring of sensors, initiators, field units and/or
actuators--include connection modules via which they are
electrically connected with the machines and the production lines.
Here, as a rule, several connection modules are provided in a
modular fashion next to each other and are wired with each other to
form a connection block. In order to connect the connection modules
electrically with each other, there is generally provided a bus
arrangement that extends from one connection module to the next,
and that comprises one or more bus lines. Such a bus arrangement,
as a rule, comprises both signal lines and supply lines.
The German patent No. DE 199 64 156 A1 discloses a switchboard unit
where a connection module in each case has a plurality of
diagnostic interfaces for the connection of the sensors,
initiators, field units, and/or actuators, which by means of bus
bars are conducted electrically to the connection contacts to which
one can connect a printed circuit board of the connection module.
Contact parts (see FIG. 5 on the state of the art) are provided for
the power supply. The contact parts, along with a contact fork 201
to which the printed circuit board can be connected, display in
each case a knife contact part 202 as well as a terminal contact
part 203. When two connection modules are assembled together, the
knife contact part of one connection module is connected with the
terminal contact part of the adjacent connection module and is
electrically contacted. The contact parts therefore constitute the
bus line for power supply.
The present invention was developed to provide an improved
electrical contact part, in particular, for the relay of a
distribution voltage to the extent that it has a greater current
load capacity, whereby in a vibration-vulnerable environment, it
will ensure continuous and qualitatively high-grade connection, and
that will furthermore be easy to connect and install, and that it
can be produced at reasonable cost.
The problem is furthermore solved with a connection module with an
inventive electrical contact part. The problem is yet again solved
with a connection block comprising at least two connection modules
with inventive electrical contact parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to
provide an electrical contact arrangement that is formed from a
conductive metal sheet having sections that are foldable to define
orthogonally arranged pairs of resilient component contacts and bus
blade contacts.
According to a more specific object of the invention, the
conductive sheet metal blank includes a horizontal rectangular
central core section having a pair of opposed side edges to which
are connected by first fold lines a pair of rectangular component
contact sections that are upwardly bent to define a pair of
component contacts for receiving therebetween an electrical
component, such as a printed circuit board. Connected with the
orthogonally arranged second pair of opposed side edges of the core
section are a pair of rectangular support sections that are bent
downwardly, whereby a corresponding pair of bus blade contact
sections connected with corresponding edges of the support sections
extend in vertical parallel spaced relation to define a pair of bus
blade contacts. These blade contacts are adapted for insertion
between, and in electrical engagement with, the downwardly bent
support sections of a corresponding second electrical contact
arrangement, whereby a string of the connector arrangements may be
connected together.
According to a further object of a modified embodiment of the
invention, each of the conductive metal blank support sections may
include an extension section that extends from the support section
in the opposite direction from the associated blade contact
section, whereby when a pair of said contact arrangements are
arranged end-to-end, said bus blade contacts of one contact
arrangement are adapted to extend in vertical parallel spaced
relation in electrical engagement between the extension sections of
the companion electrical contact arrangement.
According to an further object of the invention, an electrical
contact part for a modular expandable bus line is provided that
comprises a contact spring arrangement for the connection of an
adjacent electrical contact part, whereby the contact spring
arrangement has a first contact spring leg and a second contact
spring leg, which are electrically connected with each other,
whereby the first contact spring leg and the second contact spring
leg comprise a fork segment, whereby, in addition, both the first
contact spring leg and the second contact spring leg comprise an
orthogonally arranged contact blade segment. Because the contact
blade segment includes two contact resilient legs, the current is
conducted through both contact blade segments to the adjacent
contact part and not only through a single blade. As a result, the
current load capacity of the inventive contact part is increased
when compared to the state of the art.
The first resilient contact leg and the second resilient contact
leg are preferably arranged symmetrically with respect to a
vertical first mid-plane, so that a current flowing through the
electrical contact part will essentially be equally distributed
over both contact spring legs.
Preferably, the first contact spring leg and the second contact
spring leg in the area of the fork segments are electrically and
preferably also mechanically connected with each other by means of
a lateral strut or horizontal central core section that extends
laterally with respect to the vertical mid-plane. First of all, the
terminal segments of the first and the second contact spring legs
as well as the lateral strut as a result essentially form a
U-shaped plug-in area into which one can insert the contact blade
segments of the adjacent contact part. Besides, the central core
section gives the contact part sufficient stiffness. The contact
parts therefore can be easily handled. Furthermore, as a result,
the contact fork can be made in one piece. Besides, the central
core section can be so dimensioned that its current load capacity
will correspond to the total current load capacity of both contact
spring legs.
In a particularly preferred manner in a plug-in state in which the
electrical contact part is connected to an adjacent electrical
contact part, one contact blade segment in each case of the
electrical contact part rests against a fork segment of the
adjacent electrical contact part in an electrically contacting
manner so that the current will be distributed upon both contact
spring legs also in the adjacent contact part.
The contact spring legs are designed in a resilient manner in each
case at least on one of their ends. As a result, the contact blade
segment of each contact spring leg in a plug-in state with a reset
force will rest on a fork segment of the contact spring leg of the
adjacent contact part where the fork segment is not resilient or is
generally non-resilient.
Here, the reset force works against an extraction of the contact
blade segments out of the plug-in area formed by the fork segments
of the adjacent contact part. Compared to a conventional blade that
is inserted between the legs of a terminal contact, the inventive
contact part offers the advantage that the two contact blade
segments due to the reset force of the contact spring legs, so to
speak, cannot wiggle themselves free, and that the electrical
contact therefore will be established in a very reliable manner
even in a vibration-vulnerable environment. This means that the
contact blade consists of two individual legs which, upon insertion
into the first contact fork, can be pressed together in a resilient
manner.
In a likewise preferred manner, the electrical contact part
comprises an additional connection means, in particular for the
connection of an electrical subassembly. Such a subassembly, for
example, is an electrical printed circuit board for a
conductor.
The additional connection means is in a particularly preferred
manner a second contact fork. In a particularly preferred manner,
this second contact fork has two contact fork legs that are
arranged parallel to a vertical second mid-plane that extends
orthogonally with respect to the first mid-plane. In this
embodiment, the second contact fork grasps around a contact means
of the electrical subassembly so that the electrical contact is
securely established when the electrical contact part is assembled
together with the electrical subassembly. Furthermore, this
arrangement of the two contact forks parallel to the particularly
mutually laterally arranged mid-planes offers the advantage that
the plane in which the bus formed by the contact part is arranged
outside, for example, above or below the plane in which the
electrical subassembly is provided. The electrical subassembly
therefore can be connected to the contact part without dipping into
the area of the contact fork. In case of faulty assembly, the
electrical subassembly therefore does not dip into the area of the
contact fork, respectively of the bus, and therefore does not
endanger the continuous contacting of additional connected contact
parts and thus any further connection module.
In a preferred embodiment, the contact fork legs are connected with
each other by means of the central core section so that there is no
need for any additional connection means between the first contact
fork and the second contact fork. In a particularly preferred
manner, the first contact fork and the second contact part are made
together with each other in one piece. In this embodiment, the
contact part is preferably made as a punched bent component from
one piece of electrically conductive sheet metal. Here, the
arrangement of the contact fork as well as the contact fork on the
central core section facilitates a very space-saving punching
pattern so that there will be only very little waste material. As a
result, the contact part can be made at very reasonable cost.
Furthermore, the contact part can be made with very minor
production tolerances and a great degree of stiffness. The
resilient effect of the contact spring legs can be achieved by
corresponding bending of the contact spring legs.
Even in a vibration-vulnerable environment, the electrical contact
part also facilitates a secure bus connection between two adjacent
connection modules, in particular for the distribution voltage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from a study of the following specification, when viewed in the
light of the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1a is a side elevation view of a first embodiment of the
electrical contact arrangement of the present invention, and FIGS.
1b-1e are right side, left side, top side and bottom views,
respectively, of the apparatus of FIG. 1a;
FIG. 2 is a top plan of the conductive sheet metal blank from which
the apparatus of FIG. 1a is formed;
FIG. 3a is a front perspective view of the contact arrangement of
FIG. 1a, and FIG. 3b is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG.
3a with an electrical component mounted thereon;
FIG. 4a is a front perspective view of an assembly of a pair of the
electrical contact arrangements connected together, and FIG. 4b is
a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 4a;
FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a contact arrangement of the prior
art, and FIG. 5b is a perspective view illustrating the manner of
connecting together a pair of the devices of FIG. 5a;
FIG. 6a is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of the
invention, and FIGS. 6b and 6c are top and bottom views,
respectively, of the apparatus of FIG. 6a;
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the conductive sheet metal blank from
which the apparatus of FIG. 6a is formed;
FIGS. 8a and 8b are front and rear perspective views, respectively,
of the apparatus of FIG. 6a, and FIG. 8c is a perspective view of
an assembly of a pair of the contact arrangements of FIG. 8a;
and
FIGS. 9a, 9b and 9c are a front perspective view, a rear
perspective view, and a further rear perspective view,
respectively, of a modification of the second embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring first to FIG. 2, the contact arrangement 100 of FIGS.
1a-1e is formed from a conductive sheet metal blank including a
rectangular core section 23 having a first pair of opposed side
edges that are connected by first fold lines L.sub.1 with a pair of
component contact sections 21, and a second pair of opposed side
edges that are connected by second fold lines L.sub.2 with a pair
of rectangular support sections 113 and 123. Connected with
corresponding side edges of the support sections by third fold
lines L.sub.3 are a pair of blade contact sections 12 and 111.
The component contact sections 21 are stamped and folded upwardly
about the first fold lines L.sub.1 to define the tulip-shaped
contacts of FIG. 1a, which contacts are symmetrical to the vertical
plane 20 passing longitudinally therethrough. The upper ends of the
contacts 21 have outwardly bent portions 210 that define contact
surfaces 210a, as will be described below.
The support sections 113 and 123 are folded downwardly around
second fold lines L.sub.2 toward the vertical positions shown in
FIGS. 1b and 1c, and the blade contact sections are deformed
relative to the third fold lines L.sub.3 to form bus blade contacts
11 and 12 having the configurations shown in FIGS. 1d and 1e. In
this case, the blade contacts 11 and 12 are resiliently biased
apart, and the free end portions 110 of the bus blade contacts are
bent inwardly to define the contact surfaces 110a, which will be
described in greater detail below. The bus blade contacts are
spaced and symmetrical relative to the vertical longitudinal
central plane 10 (FIG. 1d) extending therethrough. The two vertical
planes 10 and 20 are orthogonally arranged relative to each
other.
Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the upper ends of the component
contacts 21 are resiliently biased together, whereby when a printed
circuit board 4 or similar component is inserted between the
contacts with the component lower edge portion being in supported
engagement with the horizontal core section 23, the adjacent
contact surfaces 210 of the component contacts are biased toward
electrical engagement with the conductor C on the printed circuit
board. Conceivably, a second horizontal core section could be
provided to close the bottom of the space 230 defined between the
support sections 123 and 113. Since the printed circuit board is
supported by the horizontal core section 23, it does not interfere
with the operation of the lower bus bar portion of the contact
arrangement.
According to an important feature of the invention, a string of the
contact arrangements may be connected together in end-to-end
relation. More particularly, as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, when the
contact arrangements 100 and 100' are arranged end-to-end, the bus
blade contacts 11 and 12 of first contact arrangement 110 are
inserted into the U-shaped space 230' (FIG. 2b) defined between the
support sections 113' and 123' of the second contact arrangement
100'. The external surfaces 110a of the outwardly resiliently
biased bus blade contacts 11 and 12 electrically engage the
adjacent inner surfaces of the support sections 113' and 123', as
shown in FIG. 4b, thereby electrically connecting together the bus
bar portions of the contact arrangements. The outwardly biased bus
blade contacts therefor resist the withdrawal movement of the first
contact arrangement 100 from the second contact arrangement
100'.
In the known prior art arrangement of FIGS. 5a and 5b, the contact
arrangement 200 comprises an upper portion including a pair of
component contacts 201 having upper ends that are resiliently
biased together, and a socket portion 203 including a pair of
resilient arms 2031 and 2032 extending in one direction, and a
single connecting arm 202 extending in the opposite direction. In
this known arrangement, the contact arrangements 200 and 200' can
be connected together in end-to-end fashion by inserting the single
connecting arm 202' of the second contact arrangement into the
space between the resilient arms of the socket 203 of the first
contact arrangement.
As distinguished from the contact arrangement 100 of the present
invention shown in FIGS. 1-4, the connecting bar 202 of the prior
art device is fashioned merely as an extension as one of the two
socket legs 2031 that form the socket 203. Furthermore, the
contacts 201 are also arranged only on this socket leg 2031. As a
result, the current load capacity of this contact part 200
according to the state of the art is less.
Referring now to FIGS. 6a-6c and 7, according to an alternate
embodiment of the invention, the conductive sheet metal blank
includes a pair of extension sections 112 and 122 that are
connected by fourth fold lines L.sub.4 with support sections 113
and 123, respectively, and extend in opposite directions therefrom
relative to the bus blade contact sections 111 and 121,
respectively. When two of these contact arrangements of FIGS. 8a
and 8b are arranged end-to-end as shown in FIG. 8c, the bus blade
contacts 11 and 12 of the first contact arrangement are inserted
into electrical engagement between the bus extension portions 112'
and 122' of the second contact arrangement. As a result, the
contact arrangements of this embodiment of the present invention
can be used to bridge longer distances.
Furthermore, the two embodiments in FIGS. 6-8 and 9 compared to the
embodiment of FIG. 1-4 share in common the fact that on their
contact zones 110, 210, there are provided contact enhancement
means, for example, a configuration or a coating with a
particularly well-conducting material.
In the modification shown in FIG. 9, the bus blade segments 113,
123 have been further lengthened and in each case show a bend 13 by
180.degree., whereby the bus blade extensions 112, 122 in each case
include two mutually touching leg areas 1121, 1122, 1221, 1222. As
a result, the bus blade contact legs 112, 122 are more stable.
Furthermore, lateral strengthening tab 35 may be provided that are
inwardly bendable (FIG. 9c) to strengthen the bus extension portion
of the contact arrangement. In the embodiments of FIGS. 6-8 and 9,
the strengthening tabs in each case are provided on the extension
legs 112, 122. In the embodiment in FIG. 9, it is furthermore bent
by 90.degree. so that it runs laterally with respect to the first
and second mid-plane 10, 20, and starting from the extension legs
112, 122, it extends underneath the plug-in area 230. First of all,
the fork legs 113, 123 are as a result always spaced apart from
each other. Besides, the strengthening tabs 35 facilitate a layout
of the bus blade contact spring segments 11, 12 between the blade
extension legs 113', 123' of an adjacent contact part 100'.
While in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes the
preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that changes may be made without deviating from the
invention described above.
* * * * *